Best band of all time

[tonton]

The Radiohead topic makes this a good time for the revival of this old favorite.

My vote: Led Zeppelin
Mass appeal, intense skill, immersive expression, innovation and timelessness all point the way of the masters.

Some people may feel they're overrated, or perhaps they're too familiar and sick of the songs, but this is one band I can listen to over and over again and always hear a new emotion. (All I have to do is avoid Stairway to Heaven, of course).

What is your choice and why?

Take these things into consideration:

Skill
Originality
Influence
Expression
Durability
Mass appeal
Creativity
Others?

[applenut]

Led Zeppelin and the Beatles

hard for me to understand how any band could top either of those two.

[Argento]

Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Their music is unreal. The emotion, soul, feeling, and funk they pour into every song is amazing. Their lyrics are probably some of the best out there, Flea may be one of the top base players in the world, and Chad is an amazing drummer. John Fruscante is a decent guitar player skill wise, but every song that he plays he finds the best sound to express the feelings in every song. Anthony has an average voice (at least what most people say.) However what he lacks in voice, he makes up for in his song writing.

Best Band Ever.

Springsteen and Dylan are close behind however.

[GardenOfEarthlyDelights]

They Might Be Giants.

Hey-- accordians rock, man!

... and maybe Steely Dan.

[Alex London]

The Beatles.

[Matsu]

The Rolling Stones get a nod too, for sheer longevity, and a steady stream of hits. Eminently listenable, iDunno if they're the best though. The other choices here are goodies too.

[stupider...likeafox]

[quote]Originally posted by tonton:
<strong>
Skill
Originality
Influence
Expression
Durability
Mass appeal
Creativity
</strong><hr></blockquote>

On every single thing listed (assuming skill to mean songwriting skill rather than technically astounding fretboard wankery) The Beatles win by a country mile.

There can be no debate about this: the Beatles defined what being a 'band' means and *are* the greatest band of all time. This goes beyond personal preference and what you 'like' or are 'into'.

[boy_analog]

[quote]Originally posted by stupider...likeafox:
<strong>

On every single thing listed (assuming skill to mean songwriting skill rather than technically astounding fretboard wankery) The Beatles win by a country mile.

There can be no debate about this: the Beatles defined what being a 'band' means and *are* the greatest band of all time. This goes beyond personal preference and what you 'like' or are 'into'.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Actually, a good case can be made for the Beach Boys on several of those criteria.

On the other hand, if we don't try to break things down to quite this degree and simply regard greatness as "lasting value", I'd vote:

• Velvet Underground
• Sonic Youth

[trick fall]

There can really only be greatest bands for you as an individual. A lot of individuals may agree with you, but it's still a subjective thing. Personally I think the Beatles were a lame ass boy band. The most talented member of the group was George Martin. Led Zeppelin....well beyond having one of the worst singers of all time their music bored the shit out of me.

Anyway my best bands of all time would be The Rolling Stones, Blondie, The Velvet Underground and The Ramones.

[Alex London]

George Martin wasn't a member of the group now was he? Lame ass boy band my lame ass. Go and listen to Tomorrow Never Knows at some volume to clear your head of such frippery.

[VanDeWaals]

Rush.

Three incredible musicians, still putting out incredible albums. Lyrically the best band I have ever heard. And they have never done a power ballad (big thumbs up). Game, set, match . Let the debate rage on.

P.S. Oh and I have to show some love for the Beatles too. Boy band? Did you stop listening just before Sgt. Pepper? Revolver? Rubber Soul? Jeez.

[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: VanDeWaals ]</p>

[Artman @_@]

[quote]Originally posted by VanDeWaals:
<strong>Rush.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Dude...he said Rush...



Uh huh, huh.

Since it is subjective and all...

Iggy & the Stooges. <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />

[BuzzardsBay]

Led Zeppelin.

Sublime, they may not be extremely talented, but they give you something to relate to in all their songs.

Steely Dan, Grateful Dead, Chili Peppers and too many others to list can't be left out though. Music isnt about who is the most talented, it's about what it means to you. Everyone will want something different at different times.

Cheers,
Dan

[Gizzmonic]

The Vandals, of course. With the Ramones being a close second.

[VanDeWaals]

[quote]Originally posted by Artman @_@:
<strong>

Dude...he said Rush...



Uh huh, huh.

Since it is subjective and all...

Iggy & the Stooges. <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

Hey now....when I went to see them this summer I saw VERY few mullets in effect. I could definitely see who were the folks who USED to have mullets tho. They were the ones wearing T-shirts from the Moving Pictures tour .

[Alpha Mac]

The Beatles.

Skill: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Influence: 10/10
Expression: 10/10
Durability : 10/10
Mass appeal: 10/10
Creativity: 10/10
Others? 10/10

[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: Alpha Mac ]</p>

[Alex London]

Who wants to take on me, Alpha Mac and Stupider..likeafox? Applenut can join our gang if he drops the lead balloon band. <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />

[running with scissors]

[quote]Originally posted by Gizzmonic:
<strong>The Vandals, of course. With the Ramones being a close second.</strong><hr></blockquote>

"he pulled his cowboy hat down low,
as far as it would go.
cause everyone knows a skinheads,
skinheads aren't allowed
in mohawk town."

- the vandals

couple of the best punk bands ever, that's for sure. you'd also have to throw in the fourskins and the sex pistols as well. sing a long with the fourskins and never mind the bollocks are two of the best albums of all time in my opinon.

[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: running with scissors ]</p>

[Artman @_@]

[quote]Originally posted by Gizzmonic:
<strong>The Vandals, of course. With the Ramones being a close second.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Rush bad, Vandals Good. <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />

Who was that singer's name on Rush...Tweety Bird?

I did see Rush...waaay back. They rocked, but I hated their singer. Too whiney.

[thuh Freak]

The Grateful Dead is my favorite band of all time. but as far as mass appeal, they never were greatly popular among the billboards and charts (I think they had a single top-ten). All the other categories they rock on though. Pigpen was one of the most amazing singers of all time (just try listening to Pain in my Heart @ the Fillmore West July 16, 1966; and thanks to the GD's song policy, you don't have to phear the record industry if you go thru dirty channels to get that song). I also think that Nirvana was a great band. They hit most of those categories pretty strongly too.

[Stagger]

Zeppelin. Listening to Houses Of The Holy right now.

The Beatles lost points for all their early stuff like "I wanna hold your hand" and "She loves you" etc.

[running with scissors]

[quote]Originally posted by thuh Freak:
<strong>The Grateful Dead is my favorite band of all time. but as far as mass appeal, they never were greatly popular among the billboards and charts (I think they had a single top-ten). All the other categories they rock on though. Pigpen was one of the most amazing singers of all time (just try listening to Pain in my Heart @ the Fillmore West July 16, 1966; and thanks to the GD's song policy, you don't have to phear the record industry if you go thru dirty channels to get that song). I also think that Nirvana was a great band. They hit most of those categories pretty strongly too.</strong><hr></blockquote>

i never got the dead until one fateful night i had droped a hit of acid with some friends. i was laying in the back of a neighbors rx7 coming home from the bars. staring up at the stars, a nice little hottie beside me, the dead flowing like liquid out of the speakers to each side. wow. i instantly understood what it was all about in a moment of clarity. the veil had been lifted.

[superkarate monkeydeathcar]

[quote]Zeppelin. Listening to Houses Of The Holy right now.

The Beatles lost points for all their early stuff like "I wanna hold your hand" and "She loves you" etc. <hr></blockquote>

i stayed out of this inane thread til now, i mean best band of all time? that's kind of subjective isn't it? anyway who's best and who's worst....who won a grammy and who didn't is all so silly.
music isn't a race, art is not quantifiable.
to say that the beatles lost points because of their early records is asinine. the beatles, stones and beach boys are the ones who pushed the envelope for the artistic freedom to allow a led zeppelin or (insert your "best" band here) to exist.
if it weren't for the beatles we'd all still be listening to f**king fabian or something.

besides, everyone knows the best band of all time is count basie's band from the 30's.

[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: superkarate monkeydeathcar ]</p>

[Artman @_@]

[Haddock.]

Rolling Stones.

The first fifteen years are shocking. They did lots of different stuff, and almost everything was brilliant. And yes, they could play live.

[stupider...likeafox]

[quote]Originally posted by Stagger:
<strong>The Beatles lost points for all their early stuff like "I wanna hold your hand" and "She loves you" etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Have you ever looked into Page's early career?

I'll try and dig something up with Google but I remember from an old issue of Record Collector that he played on a lot of pop records by folk like Tom Jones.

It was a great article all about 'before they were famous', did you know Glen Campbell played on Tequila by The Chammps back before he joined The Beach Boys?

[MacsRGood4U]

Great choice Artman. I'd also vote for:

Alexander's Rag Time......

[stupider...likeafox]

I love Google, the things you stumble upon serendipitously are better than what you were looking for.

First this astounding fact:
[quote]
Amazingly, it is estimated that Jimmy Page appeared on 60% of everything recorded in England between 1963 and 1966.
<hr></blockquote>

But even better is the article it comes from
the content of which is summarized in the title
THE THIEVING MAGPIES:Jimmy Page's Dubious Recording Legacy

<a href="http://www.furious.com/perfect/jimmypage.html" target="_blank">http://www.furious.com/perfect/jimmypage.html</a>

Is integrity an important part of being the best band ever?

[alcimedes]

not a band, but Bob Dylan.

as for all the wank happiness over the beatles? i guess i missed out on it.

they had some cool stuff when they were blitzed, but they wrote so many completely sell-out corny songs i couldn't vote for 'em.

they had some good stuff, but too much popcorn music thrown in the mix for my taste.

[Stagger]

[quote]Originally posted by stupider...likeafox:
<strong>

Have you ever looked into Page's early career?

I'll try and dig something up with Google but I remember from an old issue of Record Collector that he played on a lot of pop records by folk like Tom Jones.

It was a great article all about 'before they were famous', did you know Glen Campbell played on Tequila by The Chammps back before he joined The Beach Boys?</strong><hr></blockquote>


That was just Page, not Led Zeppelin.

[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: Stagger ]</p>

[kraig911]

You should've started a threat for the worst bands of all time. Rush should definately be included in that list as well, man I can't stand rush, Until I was 14 I thought that guy was a woman, I had no clue till a friend of mine bought the tape. Heh.

[Stagger]

Meddle is a great album, but listening to it makes me want to kill myself for some weird reason.

[superkarate monkeydeathcar]

[quote]not a band, but Bob Dylan.
as for all the wank happiness over the beatles? i guess i missed out on it.
they had some cool stuff when they were blitzed, but they wrote so many completely sell-out corny songs i couldn't vote for 'em.
they had some good stuff, but too much popcorn music thrown in the mix for my taste.
IP: <hr></blockquote>

alcimedes brings up an excellent point that i completely let slip, the difference with the beatles and the stones and the rest of the british invasion was that they were heavily influenced by dylan, dylan showed them that lyrics could have significance and meaning, either obliquely or literally.
the beatles and the stones worshipped at dylan's alter and i was remiss in pointing that out.
good call alcimedes.

also cool poster artman!

my dad told me that when he came home from overseas (ww2, the big one) he saw count basie and then walked down the block and saw duke ellington.

[Mr. Macintosh]

1. Nirvana

2. Red Hot Chili Peppers

3. Pink Floyd

4. The Beatles

5. Aerosmith

6. Led Zeppelin

7. The Rolling Stones

[Luca]

The Beatles are my all time favorite. Yes, there are some pretty horrible Beatles songs, and their first few years were just all the same stuff over and over again, but later on they really turned out some good stuff. And some really weird stuff. A very versatile band.

I also am a big fan of Johnny Cash. I don't know why, I just like him. The Man in Black is one of my favorites, and I also like his remake of the NIN song Hurt.

Led Zeppelin... I used to like them. Then, as I listened to their songs more, I realized that most of their songs had someone in the background wailing almost the entire time. Wailing annoys the hell outta me. That's why I really dislike While My Guitar Gently Weeps... that constant shrieking noise in the background ruins what could have been a great song.

EDIT: Oh, I almost left out Eric Clapton. I like him too. I have the old version of Layla, it's one of my favorites.

[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: Luca Rescigno ]</p>

[applenut]

[quote]Originally posted by Mr. Macintosh:
<strong>1. Nirvana

2. Red Hot Chili Peppers

3. Pink Floyd

4. The Beatles

5. Aerosmith

6. Led Zeppelin

7. The Rolling Stones</strong><hr></blockquote>

oh god... i was waiting for someone to say aerosmith. I dont know whats worse, that you mentioned them or that you actually put them ahead of zeppelin and the stones.

eek

[Mr. Macintosh]

[quote]Originally posted by applenut:
<strong>

oh god... i was waiting for someone to say aerosmith. I dont know whats worse, that you mentioned them or that you actually put them ahead of zeppelin and the stones.

eek</strong><hr></blockquote>

Aerosmith continually defies time and remains current all with style and a sound that is just so American.

[Luca]

Aerosmith has a few good songs. But a lot of bad ones. And even the good ones get boring and annoying after a little while.

I think I'd even put Metallica above Aerosmith. Although I do like some of Aerosmith's songs more than Metallica, overall I think Metallica is a better band.

[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: Luca Rescigno ]</p>

[Mr. Macintosh]

[quote]Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
<strong>Aerosmith has a few good songs. But a lot of bad ones. And even the good ones get boring and annoying after a little while.

I think I'd even put Metallica above Aerosmith. Although I do like some of Aerosmith's songs more than Metallica, overall I think Metallica is a better band.

[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: Luca Rescigno ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Look whos still Rockin'. Aerosmith has songs such as

Dream On
Love In An Elevator
Sweet Emotion
Walk This Way
Rag Doll
Dude
Cryin
Amazing
Livin On The Edge
Jaded
Janies Got A Gun
Beyond Beautiful
Falling In Love Is So Hard On The Knees